Jason Hillegas

Jason Hillegas

Chain Maille Jewelry

“Links and Lore”

“Offering  fashionable, modern jewelry which captures the historic patterns that have lasted thousands of years.”

Links & Lore Jewelers was created by our Master Maille-Smith, Jason Hillegas, who started weaving maille armor at the age of 14.

Maille armor is the metal mesh medieval knights wore under their shiny plates of armor. 

Throughout the 29 years that followed, Jason not only continued weaving maille, but he also dove into its history; studying its origins, how it was originally made, and teaching himself the dozens of chain maille patterns which  developed over the centuries.

While he was weaving a maille shirt for a friend, a lady approached and commented, “That would make some real pretty jewelry. Have you ever thought of making some?”

Hence the seed that was planted years ago has now grown into Links & Lore Jewelers.

Jason strives to stay true to the belief that each piece of jewelry is a link to the past or, if you will, a link of history.

Every design is a variation of one of the patterns from the maille armor that knights used to wear.   Of course a few patterns that are a bit more modern have found their way into the collection of designs. In those instances,  Jason believes  that they are just too nice of a pattern not to use them.

About Links & Lore Jewelers

There is much more to maille or “chain-mail” than just the pretty patterns you find in a crafting magazine. 

Maille is an art form that is well over 5,000 years old. We’re keeping it alive by taking the patterns that were once only used for weaving armor and turning them into jewelry and accessories for more modern applications.

So you are literally wearing a piece of history.

Jason@linksandlore.com

 

All images are used with the permission of the artist, and remain the property of the artist.  No images may be copied, printed, or used in any way without the express permission of the artist who created them. 

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Elizabeth

 Custom Jewelry With Stones and Pearls

My love of beautiful crystals, stones, and pearls began many years ago. 

Most of the stones in my collection are specimen items, just as they came from the Earth.  But I also love wearing jewelry made from beautiful stones, and so began collecting unusual pieces bit by bit.

I love collecting hand made pieces, because commercially available jewelry tends to cut, facet, and polish stones down to tiny bits one can barely see.

I saw a need for beautiful pieces of jewelry, made with natural stones, at affordable prices.  I had some design ideas I wanted to create, and so I began making necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with semi-precious stones and pearls  in 2007.

I firmly believe that every piece I make already has an intended owner, who will eventually find it, fall in love with it, and make it their own.

Often a buyer will commission a particular piece for themselves or for a loved one, using stones they love, and I am always happy to make a custom piece to order.

I love working with all forms of quartz, including rutilated quartz, tourmalinated quartz, citrine, amethyst, rose quartz, smoky quartz, and clear quartz.  I also work with garnets, lapis lazuli, turquoise, tourmaline, carnelian, agates, and freshwater pearls.

Crystals and gemstones are full of light.  They hold a special fascination and beauty.

It is such joy to work with them.

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All images are used with the permission of the artist, and remain the property of the artist.  No images may be copied, printed, or used in any way without the express permission of the artist who created them. 

e.mccoy105@gmail.com

Bob Mandala

Wire Tree Sculptures and Wire/Gemstone Pendants

http://www.bobmandala.com

My entrance into the art world did not begin with art classes or the love of sculptures.  It began when I saw a wire tree in a gallery in Portland, ME, and was captivated by the work.  While I was excited about the work, the price tag was off-putting and I wondered to myself (and to my wife), “I wonder if I can do that?” and my journey began.

When I returned home to Williamsburg, I visited one of my favorite art meccas, ACE Hardware, purchased what I thought I needed, brought it all home and immediately started my new project.  Well, I immediately realized that my skills needed considerable honing.  While a picture of the wire tree was firmly cemented in my mind’s eye, communication to my hands seemed to be a bit, well, severely misinterpreted.  My first attempt was tragic but my enthusiasm was not dampened.

I visited another well-known art institution, The Internet, and found others who produced varying styles of trees made of wire, some with beads, others with elaborate bases, and still others that had a distinctive Eastern flair.  I studied them, but determined that I would have to develop my own style using materials that I would discover along the way.  Through many experiments and missteps, I came upon a style much like I use today – simplicity.

The four primary tree designs are Oak, Willow, Aspen, and Windblown..  I primarily use 20gauge “dead-soft” copper or silver plated wire in shades of gold, silver, bronze, copper, and multi-toned.  The bases have evolved from clay and wood to slate and natural stones. I use two methods, wrapping and/or twisting to achieve the trunk and branch affects.  The trees are 100% wire; no other materials are used for strength or form.  It takes between 40-60 yards of wire per tree, depending on the style and size, and between 8-14 hours of work over a period of two-three days.  The trunks are embedded into the base by way of a personally drilled hole into the medium at a depth to provide substantial support, anchored with a metal piece inside the hole and finally cemented to avoid any possible loosening, under normal circumstances.

My pendants are gemstones wrapped with the same wire used on trees. 

Styles are still evolving, but simplicity is my goal – letting the gemstone quality be the main focus with wire as an accent.

My journey into art has been an exciting experience, not only for the personal accomplishment of actually creating pieces that might be appealing to others, but more importantly, I have made new friends whose work I admire and I have a significantly elevated appreciation for the creative process.  Now when I see a painting, a drawing, a photograph, a sculpture, handcrafted jewelry, or other work of art, I better understand the journey that an artist must have taken to get to the place to create.  I understand now that the journey is not a quick trip, takes many detours along the way, and is a very valuable part of our culture.

All images are used with the permission of the artist, and remain the property of the artist.  No images may be copied, printed, or used in any way without the express permission of the artist who created them. 

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